Robbie Neilson: Hearts can end 'difficult' year with 'massive' occasion
The Jambos take on Jack Ross’ men at Hampden for the right to play either Aberdeen or Celtic in the final on December 20, with the 2020 competition’s latter stages delayed due to the coronavirus crisis.
A curtailment of the 2019/20 season resulted in Hearts being demoted from the Premiership to the Championship amid controversy and anger after the Scottish Professional Football League passed a resolution to end the campaign “as is”. Hearts were four points adrift at the foot of Scotland’s top flight with eight games remaining.
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Hide AdThe Tynecastle club was left furious by the decision and contested it in court, but with the dust settled and Hearts’ 2020/21 campaign under way, boss Neilson has now turned his attention to facing Hibs and making sure his team return to Hampden just before Christmas.
“It would be massive for everyone, massive for the club,” said Neilson on what reaching the Scottish Cup final would mean. “It’s been a very difficult year and if we can get ourselves into a cup final and potentially win it, it’d be massive for us. But first of all we need to focus on the game on Saturday and get the right result.
“It would be great. We have to focus on our game and make sure we're ready for it. It's been a really good pre-season, a good Betfred, a good start to the league campaign. Everything is going in the right direction, we need to show it on Saturday."
Neilson does not think the occasion is diluted by the fact no supporters will be present due to coronavirus restrictions and is in favour of the match being played despite the peculiar backdrop.
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Hide Ad"It's still a huge Edinburgh derby, we all know that,” said Neilson. “Yes, there's not going to be fans there which doesn't make it as good in my opinion, but it's still a massive game for us and a chance to get to a Scottish Cup final. From our perspective we've had it in the back of our mind and tried to put it to bed a bit so to make sure to concentrate on the league games and the Betfred and we've managed to get some good results and we're geared up for it.
"The counter-argument for us [against not playing] is it's a Scottish Cup semi-final and a chance to get to a final and an opportunity to win it. We're desperate to play the game. It's the same as the league campaign, we'd have liked to have played it out, I think everyone would have, it wasn't to be but because it is one of two games, we've got two semis and a final, then I think you can fit it in.”
Most bookmakers make Hearts very slight favourites, but Neilson does not agree with that. “I think when you go into a derby I don't think there are ever any favourites,” he added. “It's a case of turning up and making sure that you're prepared for the game. Although we're in the Championship and they are in the Premiership, it'll still be an even game, a competitive game, that's for sure.”